Packers not likely to keep WR Jennings beyond 2012

The more we examine the Packers’ contract front, the less likely it seems that WR Greg Jennings will remain in Green Bay beyond this season.

The bottom line, literally, is that the kind of money we hear Jennings is seeking in his contract year (a deal averaging in the neighborhood of $13 million per year) is totally out of sync with a team budget that's faced with much bigger contract priorities — most notably, QB Aaron Rodgers, who has two years remaining on his current deal after this season, and OLB Clay Matthews and NT B.J. Raji, whose contracts both expire after the 2013 season.

With Jennings also off to a subpar start this season by his normal standards, there are some close observers who believe it’s unlikely but not out of the question that he could be traded in October.

A major question worth considering, though, is the extent to which the Packers believe they actually have what it takes in terms of personnel to replace their longtime No. 1 receiver.

The way we hear it, the primary combination of Jordy Nelson, who had a blazing summer camp, James Jones, who daily observers believe has markedly improved this season, emerging second-year weapon Randall Cobb, and TE Jermichael Finley, who often lines up wide, can collectively fill the shoes Jennings has so ably filled as Rodgers' most reliable target since becoming the starting QB in 2008.

In addition, rookie Jarrett Boykin, who looked terrific this summer by all accounts, and practice-squad member Diondre Borel, offer what is considered legitimate promise for the future.